President Appreciates Senate Extension of Patriot Act, Looks Forward to Re-Authorization in July

I appreciate the Senate for working to keep the existing Patriot Act in
law through next July, despite boasts last week by the Democratic leader
that he had blocked the Act. No one should be allowed to block the
Patriot Act to score political points, and I am grateful the Senate
rejected that approach. The terrorists want to attack our country again
and inflict even greater damage than they did on September 11, 2001.
The Patriot Act is a vital tool for America in the war on terror. The
Act has torn down the wall between law enforcement and intelligence
officials to help us connect the dots and prevent attacks. The work of
Congress on the Patriot Act is not finished. The Act will expire next
summer, but the terrorist threat to America will not expire on that
schedule. I look forward to continuing to work with Congress to
re-authorize the Patriot Act.